I'm taking bjj now. When I was younger I took karate. I like both. I do think that it's easier to learn the basics in karate. You drill them every class and you can practice them on your own. BJJ has soooo many techniques that it seems very hard to get a firm command of the basics. I don't even want to know all the bjj techniques there's so many. I've been to 2 diff. bjj schools and I think one thing they could do better is teach beginners the basics. Maybe there are good ways and I just haven't learned them. Do you guys have any ideas?

I'm at a basic level of understanding myself (in grappling), but I think it's like anything else. Practice and repetition. Like algebra, the basics get built upon, so you have to get a good foundation first.

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Calling yourself "Master" implies that you have slaves.

Of course this may only be an attempt to preach to the choir, but.......

I think part of the problem is that people focus too intently on the techniques (submissions and sweeps) and not on controling positions.

Obviously this is important from the top positions, but it's equally important from the guard where it's often overlooked.

I'd rather have a great ability to control my opponent and just a handfull of attacks out of that control.

Spend a great deal of time developing your ability to control your opponent and it will pay dividends when you're working your attacks.

Also, try this: When attacking out of a position (other than guard where you need to be as active as possible) think "one shot, one kill". Don't go for a submission until you are 99% sure you'll get it. Be content to work your control and make your opponent give something up instead of trying to force something you don't have.

You should definitly start with body mechanics and worry about the submissions later. Sure, it's not all that exciting, right? Everyone wants to get to the "good stuff", the submissions right away, but......you have to have a solid foundation first. Then.......you can start to be the fighter you envision.

i think many of us have seen it before. a beginner rolling with a more advanced student staring with the deer into the headlights look, about to get choked/locked just kneeling/sitting/lying there. do SOMETHING. try to stand up or something, dont just lie there.. ive even seen this in competition. sometimes it feels like some people are lost in finding the right 'technique', etc etc and forget to use common sense

il admit that happened to me. i didnt know what to do with a more advanced opponent and while i sat there thinking about what to do, BAM! took a choke, lol. im still a beginner, but it did teach me that doing something IS better than nothing.Kel

Maybe your instructor is throwing everything at you at the same time, does he drill you in some kind of order? As an example we will work on escape from the guard one night and practice about 4-5 techniques over and over, another night it might be escape from the half guard, another night it would be take downs from the clinch, chokes, leg locks ect. My point is they are "in some kind of order" so it is easier to remember vs. throwing a bunch of mixed techniques at you. Also like every one else has mentioned it take practice and more practice.

John L and I went to a Patrick MCarthy seminar together a few weeks ago and he gave us a lecture on "Hyakuren Jitoku" the Japanese translation mean, 100 repeats of a basic exercise makes you own your technique" As he said, before you run to your Sensei and say I just can't seem to get this particular move down, have you practiced it 100 times, and if you have I'm sure that you under stand it by now.

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The way of the warrior does not include other ways... Miyamoto Musashi
Schanne